New Delhi – India’s Supreme Court on Friday ordered the Telangana government to halt all activities on a land parcel adjoining the University of Hyderabad, except measures to protect trees, amid student protests and concerns over deforestation.
A bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih cited an interim report from the Telangana High Court, which depicted an “alarming picture” of tree felling on the land earmarked for development. The Supreme Court sought a response from the state’s chief secretary on the urgency behind the planned construction and whether an environmental impact assessment certificate had been obtained before commencing activities.
The court’s order came as students from the University of Hyderabad staged large-scale protests against the state government’s plan to develop information technology infrastructure on 400 acres of land near the university. Opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), have also voiced their opposition to the project.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court directed the Telangana High Court’s registrar (judicial) to conduct an immediate site visit. The court scheduled the next hearing for April 16.
The ruling Congress government in Telangana has defended the development plan, arguing that it aims to boost the state’s IT sector. However, the controversy over deforestation and environmental impact has intensified, drawing criticism from activists and opposition leaders alike.
